And your Most Miserable U.S. City is .....

[I Should Coco]

I liked the fact that Chicago's 10-plus percent sales tax was pointed out. And the state of Illinois doesn't go light on the taxes, either.

So I'm sure both the city and the state must have plenty of money for important programs, and no financial woes whatsoever ... ::)

 

[micropolitan guy]

Buffalo No. 8? They can hold the celebration in the Statler Building. Plenty of room available.

Actually, there are still some very nice, affordable neighborhoods in Buffalo, and they are very close to the hospitals, universities, downtown, where what jobs there are there, are, and a spectacular park.

 

[2muchcoffeeman]

Dear America:

We don't need high taxes, but if we get them, it's a no-brainer. One way or another, we're not stopping at No. 3.

Yours truly,
The City of Memphis

Dear Memphis,

You'll need the high taxes to pay enough police officers to keep your Chuck E. Cheese customers in line.

Sincerely,
-2mcm-

 

[Stoney]

They must not have seen the awesome tourism video

I liked the 2d attempt better:

 

[Football_Bat]

Didn't Camden simply get rolled up with Philly?

 

[BTExpress]

Really stupid of them to rank K.C. low because of miserable sports teams.

Maybe I've just outgrown fanboiism, but whether the local team is any good plays zero role in how pleasant that city is.

What the hell happened to Gary, Indiana?

Only living cities are considered. I think Gary died several years ago.

 

[Herbert Anchovy]

Hoboken sucks just as badly as Camden.

Not just physical decrepitude, but ugly and rude people out the ass.

 

[beardpuller]

No way does St Louis or Kansas City rank higher on this list than Philly. Never.

Downtown St. Louis is pretty ****ty.

Philly's not exactly a resort either. And in the bad parts of St Louis, it's the criminals that are mean that you have to watch out for. In all of Philly, it's the entire population that's mean that you have to watch out for.

If you really think Philadelphia's Center City equates with St. Louis, I can't believe you've spent much time in either place. Or maybe I missed St. Louis's Independence Hall, Society Hill, Boathouse Row, Reading Terminal Market and dozens of world-class restaurants.
But yeah,people here are mean, I heard they even threw snowballs at Santa Claus.

And Joe -- I would guess Newark, Camden and A.C. don't fit the criterion of being in the top 200 metro areas RE population. I'm pretty sure Camden doesn't, anyhow

 

[dooley_womack1]

Hoboken sucks just as badly as Camden.

Not just physical decrepitude, but ugly and rude people out the ass.

It's an old-looking city, sure, but it's loaded with money and luxury high-rises. It's a yuppie haven and belongs nowhere near this convo (oh, and it's too small to be in the running)

 

[spnited]

Hoboken sucks just as badly as Camden.

Not just physical decrepitude, but ugly and rude people out the ass.

It's an old-looking city, sure, but it's loaded with money and luxury high-rises. It's a yuppie haven and belongs nowhere near this convo (oh, and it's too small to be in the running)

Some really good restaurants and a lot of very good bars.

A town of about 40,000 packed into a little more than one square mile.

 

[Boom_70]

No way does St Louis or Kansas City rank higher on this list than Philly. Never.

Downtown St. Louis is pretty ****ty.

Philly's not exactly a resort either. And in the bad parts of St Louis, it's the criminals that are mean that you have to watch out for. In all of Philly, it's the entire population that's mean that you have to watch out for.

Philly is a great city. Great restaurants, museums , easy to get around and lots of history. From Center City you can get to the ball parks via subway in 15 minutes.

 

[Michael_ Gee]

Yeah, but rural areas have just as many problems, and not so many redeeming features.

 

[ArnoldBabar]

Really stupid of them to rank K.C. low because of miserable sports teams.

Maybe I've just outgrown fanboiism, but whether the local team is any good plays zero role in how pleasant that city is.

But it's not a list of cities that suck, it's a list of cities that have factors that add to misery if you live there. Good sports teams provide positive things for communities to rally around; in places where it's just one losing story after another, it's bad for morale. Not a major factor, but a factor.

 

[Killick]

I'm wary of any "index" which publishes only the results, without the stats. You factor in crime? Job commute's in there? Show me. Tell me how much each is weighed against the rest.

 

[Bubbler]

All of these Forbes lists have about as much value as a USA Today pictograph.

Forbes ... the magazine where we list ****.

 

[Football_Bat]

People love lists.

 

[Michael_ Gee]

Junkie, some people like the city, some like the country, and that's fine. But overall, as people vote with their feet, U.S. rural areas have been losing population for quite some time. Maybe that will change as telecommunication makes work life less centralized.